FILM REVIEW: Batman Forever

Batman Forever
Studio: Warner Bros.
Run time: 122 min.
Directed by Joel Schumacher
Screenplay by Lee & Janet Scott Batchler and Akiva Goldsman; Story by Lee & Janet Scott Batchler
Cast:
Val Kilmer as Bruce Wayne/Batman
Tommy Lee Jones as Harvey Dent/Two-Face
Jim Carrey as Edward Nygma/The Riddler
Nicole Kidman as Dr. Chase Meridian
Chris O'Donnell as Dick Grayson/Robin
Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth
Pat Hingle as Commissioner Jim Gordon
Drew Barrymore as Sugar
Debi Mazar as Spice
Ed Begley Jr. as Fred Stickley

After years of working and idolizing Wayne Enterprise's President and CEO Bruce Wayne (Kilmer), Edward Nygma (Carrey) takes his invention known as The Box and quits his job. The Box has the ability to suck the intelliengence out of people who watch TV with The Box on the top of their TV. He teams himself up with former Gotham City D.A. turned criminal Harvey Dent/Two-Face (Jones) to put The Box in every home in Gotham and become the most powerful man ever. Bruce also has his fair share of problems with his interest with the new criminal psychiatrist Dr. Chase Meridian (Kidman), who seems to be more interested in getting under Batman's cape, and taking in newly orphaned Dick Grayson (O'Donnell) who's parents were killed at the Gotham Circus by Two-Face and Dick's neverending quest for revenge on him, might Bruce Wayne be taking on too much for himself and as Batman?

Well this movie was nothing like I expected it to be at all. In a mixed sorta way. Okay I need to get this out of my system right now. FUCK THOSE GOD DAMN NIPPLES ON THE COSTUMES!!!!! FUCK THEM!!!! Well now that's taken care of, on with the review. Now without Tim Burton in the director's chair worry did come over me when Joel Schumacher was annouced as the new director of the third Batman film. I'll get back to Schumacher in a few minutes. Now the great Michael Keaton was replaced by Val Kilmer and well Kilmer was pretty damn good as Batman but the way he played Bruce Wayne was a little wooden to me and I'm sure as well to a lot of people too but his Batman was badass! Now Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones did go over the top in their roles as The Riddler and Two-Face but Carrey was really good and it did remind a lot of people of Frank Gorshin's performance as The Riddler in the 1960s Batman series and Jones, well he was just way over the top. His opening speech about luck to that bank guard is really, really good! Plus that one scene where Two-Face keeps flipping the coin to get what he wants is all wrong! Now adding Nicole Kidman as the love interest was only an okay move she was good in many parts but hey every guy loved that upskirt shot of her when she and Robin were falling to their possible deaths right?! Anyway they finally added Dick Grayson into the story which meant Robin is introduced and he was done pretty well here by Chris O'Donnell. He seemed to have the right kind of charm to the role. Now back to Schumacher, this movie did look like a live action comic book but hey it was pretty fun to look at. I did admire most of the production sets and found that this is really just one hell of a fun movie. its not a great film but a whole lot of fun to watch!

Star rating: 3 stars/4
Grade rating: C+

Next review: Batman & Robin